Pistachio ice cream (also known as Pista ice cream) is a wonderfully light and nutty frozen treat that's perfect for summers. This easy and best pistachio ice cream is made using an ice cream maker. I also share details on making the recipe without an ice cream maker.
Take ¼ cup of pistachios in a food chopper or spice-grinder or mixer-grinder. Grind the pistachios to a semi-fine or fine powder. Remove and set aside.
Now take another ¼ cup of pistachios in the food chopper or spice-grinder or mixer-grinder. Process the nuts to small bits or chunks. Remove and keep aside.
Making pistachio ice cream mixture
In a pan take, the cold or chilled milk and sugar.
Mix very well till the sugar dissolves with a wired whisk or spoon.
Then add the chilled or cold cream.
With a wired whisk mix the cream with the milk evenly.
Add the coarsely ground pista powder.
Add a few drops of natural green food color. This is optional and you can skip it. Mix well.
Making pista ice cream
Now add this entire mixture in the ice cream maker. Please follow the manufacturer's instructions before operating the ice cream maker.
Churn the mixture till the ice cream is frozen and set.
Lastly add the chopped pistachios and fold in the ice cream with a spatula.
Now you can remove the pista ice cream and serve directly or remove it in a box or container to be served later.
There will be a bit of ice cream stuck to the walls of the ice cream maker bowl and it is difficult to scrape it. So wait for some 20 to 30 minutes. Let the pista ice cream soften on the walls of the ice cream maker bowl. Then you can remove it.
Serve pistachio ice cream just plain or as an after meal dessert.
Notes
Pistachio ice cream without ice cream maker
Firstly replace milk with sweetened condensed milk. Add powdered sugar, ground pistachios, chopped pistachios to the condensed milk. Mix very well until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
Add about ¼ to ⅓ cup powdered sugar or confectioner's sugar in the above step. Remember to add sugar as per your taste.
Whip 2 cups heavy cream or whipping cream with an electric beater till stiff peaks.
Then add the condensed milk mixture and whip again till the everything is mixed evenly. You can even fold the condensed milk mixture in the stiffly beaten whipped cream.
Pour the ice cream in a container. Cover and freeze for 5 to 6 hours or overnight until firm and set.